FOREWORD BY
Prof. G. J. SOMAYAJI, Vidwan, M. A; L. T. Kalaprapurna
Chairman (Retd.) Commission for Scientific and Technical
Terminology Ministry of Education
Head of the Dept. of Telugu (formerly) NEW DELHI Andhra University, (Retd.) CHAIRMAN. (Academic PRABHATAM. Sub-Committee Board of Official Colony Governors Telugu Academy VISAKHAPATNAM-2 HYDERABAD
Sri Adibhatla Narayana Das who lived and enjoyed a full life of 81 years (1864-1945) a scholar in Telugu, Sanskrit, Urdu, Persian, Arabic ? Dance, Drama Prose, Criticism of literary and social structure, Music, Musicology, ancient Hindu traditional culture had been a Samson and a Solomon in one during his time. Six feet four of height, a hefty constitution, a suntanned colour, standing like a palm, long arms, thick upturned mustache had been natural gifts to him. Fie could swim the rapid torrents of local rapids with lusty strokes, could defeat any opponent of his age in free wrestling, walk without break a distance of 25 miles without food or drink in the middle and could win any wager in feats of physical strength, and endurance.
At the middle and high school level of education, transplanted from the rural hermitage to the brick and stone structure of Vijayanagaram, he had started with a knowledge of Telugu and Sanskrit as an advantage over his school fellows. He had earlier contacts with the rural bards and the village musicians, whom he held at bay in all contests. At the age of 22 when he completed his matriculation he had established a name for himself in the surroundings as a learned musician, a stage performer, a skilled composer of verse and poetic narration accompanied by music.
